Kirkwood Community College - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

They didn't have the "spark" Coach Jill Williams was hopeful of seeing.

But the Kirkwood women's volleyball team had more than enough to move within one step of another berth in the NJCAA Division II national tournament.

The Eagles were able to put together some runs in the middle of all three sets in Tuesday night's Region XI-B semifinal matchup with Marshalltown Community College at Johnson Hall.

All three sets were close until the midway point of each. That's where No. 7 Kirkwood took over in each set and went on to post a 25-16, 25-19, 25-18 win. The victory moves the Eagles (32-7) into a 2 p.m. contest against Southwestern CC of Creston in Fort Dodge for the right to go to the national tournament.

SEDALIA, Mo. - The 16th-ranked Kirkwood Eagles shot 60 percent from the field Saturday and blasted the Missouri Valley College junior varsity, 113-71, in the second round of the State Fair Classic in Sedalia, Mo.

Joe Tagarelli, a transfer from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, led the Eagles (2-0) with 19 points and seven rebounds. Tyler Bussell, a freshman from Brookline, Mo., nailed five 3-pointers and scored 17 points for the Eagles.

WEST BURLINGTON - Freshman Kirsten Larson hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points Saturday as Kirkwood clobbered Lewis & Clark, 88-48, in the second round of the Southeastern Classic in West Burlington.

SEDALIA, Mo. - Ajay Lawton led five players in double figures Friday with 17 points as 16th-ranked Kirkwood smashed the College of Faith, 99-57, in the opening round of the State Fair Classic in Sedalia, Mo.

Jalen Currie collected 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles in their first game of the season under new coach Bryan Petersen. Myzeah Batie-Gaddy scored 12 points and had five rebounds for Kirkwood.

WEST BURLINGTON - Danielle Woolfolk made two free throws with 15 seconds left Friday to snap a 63-63 tie and give Kirkwood a 65-63 victory over No.9 Owens in the opening round of the Southeastern Classic in West Burlington.

Woolfolk led the Eagles in their first game of the season with 15 points. Cassidy Clark scored 10 points. Hanna Haynes contributed five blocks and five rebounds. Zoe Kelso had seven rebounds.